Secretariat

When duty calls …

While calling the successful candidates of the final examinations, teacher Tom van den Berg and director Arjen Mintjes* of the Maritime Academy Harlingen were signalled by the Coast Guard to rescue a sinking French sailing yacht at the Pollendam** with other colleagues of the KNRM** Harlingen.
The successful candidates had to wait a little longer for their results, but the French sailor was brought into Harlingen safe and sound thanks to this fast KNRM action. ‘

Yesterday we received the unexpected notice of the decease of Kees den Braber. After a short but severe illness he died Thursday morning, the first of June, at the age of 66.

Many of you may remember Kees as a very dedicated council member of ESO on behalf of CBOB (NL), until his retreat in 2008. He started in ESO’s council a long time ago, from 1992 when CBOB joined ESO as a member organisation.
Whenever he could he attended ESO’s meetings, often he had to travel from somewhere in France or elsewhere, that is, if the ships businesses allowed this.

When Kees was present at ESO’s Council meetings you couldn’t miss him. He had a clear view on the challenges and problems IWT had to master, especially the sector and regions his entreprise was operating in. He firmly supported cooperation of skippers and he himself was a convinced member of ELV.

He sailed and managed his ship Avanti together with his wife Sari den Braber-de Blaey, who always stood beside him and supported him. We’ll think of her and their children in this great and sudden loss.

.. ‘life is simple, but we insist on making it complicated’ .. (confucius)

Last Monday afternoon, February 20th, ESO held its annual New Years’s reception. Both the new Secretary General of the CCNR, Bruno Georges, as DG-MOVE’s new Head of unit for Ports & IWT, Daniela Rusça, gave their view on challenges and opportunities for IWT. President Christiaan Van Lancker followed with his traditional NY’s speech, to clarify ESO’s policy and view on various important IWT matters. The event was moderated by ESO’s Secretary General Hester Duursema.

Christiaan VanLancker, Daniela Rusça, Bruno Georges (left to right)

Approximate 35 guests from European Commission, member states, ports, inspections, organisations and of course members, were informed about the ongoing businesses and a preview of what is to come.

The event was hosted at the premisses of ITLB, right near the Berlaymont building of the Commission.

Towards a Sustainable Crewing System (TASCS)

The social partners (EBU, ESO and ETF) have started TASCS to investigate the workload of IWT personnel. This joint project has to identify and assess all relevant critical elements and/or influences that have impact on crew members on board of a vessel whilst at work/ rest. The project is funded by the European Commission and will be carried out from spring 2017 until autumn 2018.
First of all a tender will be issued to look for an external Research Partner who will be in charge of the investigation under supervision of a steering group.
Specifications can be found hereafter and in the accompanying document.
Bids are awaited before 20 February 2017 at 23:59 – at midnight the tender will be closed.

ETF’s Political Secretary Mrs. Myriam Chaffart will manage the project on behalf of EBU, ESO (employers) and ETF (employees.

Joint study into workload

The European Commission has approved on a grant for a study into the workload for crewmembers in inland shipping. The request for this study was a joint initiative of the social partners.The study should lead to a practice oriented renewal of the manning regulations for Rhine navigation and possibly form the prelude for a settlement in the other EU countries.

The representants of the employers (ESO & EBU) and employees (ETF) at European level -the social partners – will act as soon as possible to have the investigations for this study carried out.
As an essential part of the study members of the national organisations will be approached to cooperate with the practical investigations on board of approx. 50 IWT vessels of all types and categories.

As soon as all necessary documents are signed the study can start. Partners expect next February 1st is achievable.

As of 1 January 2017, employers domiciled outside Germany are required to register workers posted to Germany online, using the minimum wage registration website. The same applies to businesses that use workers leased from an agency domiciled outside Germany.
The new online registration system means less work for businesses that are required to register workers.

Find out more about the procedure of the online registration in or .

No fax messages possible after July 2017
Notifications may still be submitted by fax to the usual fax number during a transitional period until 30 June 2017. After this date, registration by fax will no longer be possible.

You can find more information about the minimum wage registration website under the section “Questions and answers” on the website itself: www.meldeportal-mindestlohn.de

After 25 years both bottoms of the Gabcikovo lock chambers have to be renewed. Total amount of costs € 144 Mio, of which 85% will be contributed by the European Commission. Estimated time frame from 2017 up to and including 2020.
On behalf of ESO both Slovakian Ministers of Transport and Environment present, as well as the European Commission, were complimented by Martin van Dijk with these boost to the Danube corridor. At the same time he urged all national politicians along the entire Donau corridor to start the proceedings of upgrading the Danube.

Regarding the renovation period there will be a continued nautical consultation with the Transport Ministry in Bratislava at the beginning of 2017.

ESO recently sent a letter to Mr. Maxime Prévot, Vice-President and Minister of Transport of the Walloon Region, about the problems in Ivoz Ramet, Ampsin Neuville et Petit Lanaye (Klein Ternaaien). The letter emphasises the delays experienced by IWT which are caused by the problems at the said locks. Hence IWT can not meet its obligations to the receiver and runs unnecessary risks on loss of transport.

ESO has asked Vice-President Prévot for clarification and requests to be informed which way the government will address these problems.

The CCNR would like to understand your expectations concerning the Market Observation website

The CCNR is examing the Market Observation’s website and wants to get your feedbacks to adapt both the website content and format. We would be grateful if you could answer this short survey. This will enable us to take into account your remarks and provide you with a website on the European inland navigation market answering to your needs: https://goo.gl/forms/0lHi19BENELQtnCo1

Monday, August 30th , ETF, EBU, Aquapol and ESO had a meeting with DG-Move (Transport Directorate of the European Commission). The subject of the discussions was the common desire to make a coherent package of the forthcoming legislation regarding professional qualifications, manning requirements and developments in the field of digitisation.

As a sector, we always said: first we want to start an adaptation of the legislation and only then develop ways to enforce these renewed laws and regulations.
DG-MOVE was pleased with the unanimous position of the sector.